Issue 213
Past a certain point, things get . . . non-linear
I'm always intrigued by models that correlate to some physical reality. It's amazing, for example, when weather forecasters plug some numbers into a computer model and are able to predict with reasonable accuracy how a storm will evolve, or the way physical modeling synthesis creates models of instruments rather than simply sampling them.
But models are only as accurate as their assumptions, and people often assume that a good thing will go on forever—but it’s also necessary to take saturation into account when making projections about reality. Life is a lot more like analog tape than the classic exponential curve, and remembering that can save us from some nasty mistakes.
Sales projections are another good example. Remember Casio's first foray into the music business? They sold hundreds of thousands of CZ-101s, which led them to believe they would sell hundreds of thousands of strap-on keyboards, drum machines, synthesizers, etc. It didn't quite work out that way, and several months later, those products were being blown out of warehouses at bargain basement prices. (Apparently Casio learned from their mistakes, because when they re-entered the music biz, they got it right.)
Taking this into account puts a new spin on making projections about technology. Electronic music devices have become so complex that many people's ability to absorb more knowledge has hit the saturation point, which I think is a factor in the back-to-basics, retro trend. We’ve seen this with computers, too. PC users were hungry for Windows 7, but aren’t feeling quite the same compulsion to go from Windows 7 to Windows 8.
Even more telling, some people have become so saturated with computers they’re more than satisfied with an iPad or even a smart phone. This “dumbing down” is a direct response to people's saturation levels—so next time you feel like you can't keep up with the rate of technological change, don't sweat it. You're not the only one hitting overload these days.
Will people stop moving to the next level altogether? Not if the next level is one that combines greater power with greater simplicity—which is the Holy Grail for manufacturers who want to beat the “tape saturation effect.”
—Craig Anderton
Headliners
Technique
by Craig Anderton
Compressors are important recording tools, but misinformation abounds—so here's your chance to find out what really makes them tick
Technique
Essential Tools for Better DIY Guitar Tracks
by Phil O'Keefe
When recording by yourself, these tools will not only make the job easier, but give you better results too
Hot Tip
"Toe-In" Your Monitors the Easy Way
by Phil O'Keefe
Correct speaker geometry means better sound—and it's easy to set up your speakers correctly with the right tools
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Need Advice on a New SG The thread title says it all—but with so many different models now aavailable, deciding which SG to is right for you can be a challenge. Humbuckers or P90s? Custom, Standard, Special or Junior? Click the link to find out which one is getting the most recommendations. |
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Things Musicians Say A thread with a collection of interesting, insightful, and sometimes provocative quotes from various musicians. Stop in and check them out, and share your favorite musician quotes. |
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Scale Length's Contribution to Sound A guitar’s scale length can certainly have an effect on the string tension and playing "feel" of your instrument, but can it also contribute significantly to the sound of the guitar? This lively thread debates whether scale length, or other parts of your rig contribute more to your tone. |
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The Old Desert Island Fantasy Imagine that you had to pare your rig down to the bare essentials—just one guitar, one amp, and one pedal. Which models would you select? The Electric Guitar forum shares their choices, and the reasons behind them . . . very interesting. |
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You Can't Sing? Some people automatically assume that if you're holding an acoustic guitar, then you're a singer—but as this thread shows, not all acoustic guitarists sing. All is not lost though, and this thread is full of great suggestions for improving your vocal chops. |
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Modular Synth Megathread Modular synthesis has had quite a resurgence over the past few years, and as the thread title suggests, this thread is huge—and required reading if you want to know which modules are hot, hot, hot. |
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IK Multimedia Announces Updated App for iPhone 5 The latest version of IK’s professional-quality sound-and-groove-module app for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch supports the larger screen of both the iPhone 5 and the new iPod touch. |
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Native Instruments Releases Komplete 9 and Komplete 9 Ultimate KOMPLETE 9 includes 33 instruments and effects with six new additions; KOMPLETE 9 ULTIMATE includes all 65 current KOMPLETE Instruments and Effects, and over 370GB of content. |
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New Musical Instrument introduced by ROLI An evolution of the piano keyboard, the Seaboard has a soft three-dimensional surface that enables unprecedented real-time, intuitive control of the fundamental characteristics of sound: pitch, volume, and timbre. |
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Toontrack Music Introduces the Drums Toolbox EZmix Pack The Drums Toolbox EZmix Pack features a wide variety of one-click settings specifically tailored to enhance drum recordings of any type, all designed by a dream team of engineers. |
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Sonnox Releases AAX Version of Oxford Dynamics Plug-In Based on algorithms from the Dynamics section of the OXF-R3 digital mixing console, the AAX DSP and Native versions boast six individual sections: Compressor, Expander, Limiter, Gate, Side-chain EQ, and Warmth function. |
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Propellerhead Introduces the New Reason 7 and Reason Essentials 2 Propellerhead has focused its attention on new creative and inspirational improvements for the mixer, the rack and the sequencer. |
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Editorial
Craig Anderton | Editor in Chief
Jon Chappell | Senior Editor
Phil O'Keefe | Associate Editor
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